Electric signaling device



Aug. 4, 1 925. 1,548,090 v A. LNDSTEN I I I ELECTRIC SIGNALING DEVICE Filed March, 22, 1923 2 Shee h 1 g I l (Q I to Q Aug. 4, 1925.

A. LINDSTEN ELECTRIC SIGNALING DEVICE Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

ALBIN LINDSTEN, 0F WHITE BEAR LAKE, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING DEVICE;

Application filed March 22, 1923. Serial No. 626,867.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBIN LINDSTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at White Bear Lake, in the county of Ramse and State of Minnesota, have invented oer--- tain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification. 7

This invention relates to combined visual and audible signaling and telegraphing devices and is especially adapted for actual use in battle fields but may also be used by students for learning the use of such devices.

This device contains some of the parts and features found in my invention covered by U. S. application Serial No. 616,102, filed January 31, 1923, wherefore parts and features therein fully covered will in the present application not be fully described nor claimed. Said former invention was, however, mainly for the learning of telegraphic codes, while the present one is also and mainly for actual service of several varied kinds and is constructed accordingly.

The main object is to enable army divisions in a field to signal to each other at close or long distance by electric buzzers where a line wire is available, and where not available then to signal by electric lights controlled by a press button or key an using a regular telegraph code, and strong or weak light as the distance may require.

In some cases two similar instruments may be used one at each end of a line wire.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side'elevation of one of the instruments with a portion of its inclosure or cabinet broken away. 1

Fig. 2 is a sectional top view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a left hand end elevation of Fig. 1 from the point X down with the contact plug 34; removed. 7

Fig. 4: is a right hand or rear end elevation of the main cabinet, with its door 18 removed so as to expose the batteries and some wiring inside the cabinet.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing two of the instruments connected one to each end of a line wire or cable used for communication.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section on the line 66 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, the two instruments shown in Fig.

5 being practically alike I will describe in detail only one of them. In Figs. 1, 2 and other views it will be seen that I provide a wooden cabinet 10 reenforced by metal bands 11 from which extends a shoulder strap 12 having a buckle 13 by which to so adjust it that when the strap is over the shoulder of the operator the cabinet will hang at the hip where its mechanism may be operated. Said strap is secured by two metal rings 14. There is also a hand strap or handle 15 for temporary use when the device is to be carried but a short distance.

Electric batteries 16 are placed into the cabinet from its rear end and retained by a detachable board 17 shown only in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and carrying upon its rear side the telegraph code to be used (said code board is fully described in my said earlier application). The rear end of the cabinet is normally closed by a door 18 which carries an insulating plate 18 and is hinged at19 and provided with a spring catch 20 adapted to engage at 20 and hold the door closed, and a finger hold or knob 21 on which the door may rest when in open position as in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

Secured on said door is a buzzer 22, a switch having a press button or key 23 andd a knife switch 24 having a fingercatch 25 by which its switch lever 25 is operated,

.all of which parts are'operatively connected with the batteries by a live wire 26 and a return wire 27 in a manner presently to b further described.

. In the front part of the cabinet is a transverse vertical partition 28, the lower .half of which has a forward enlargement 29 while the upper half is so thin as to leave a space 30 which is closed by a thin door 31, hinged at 32 (see Figs. 1 and 3) and reenforced by a cleat 33 carrying a per manently secured switch plug 3 1. Said door has a notched lip 35, which-when the door is closed is engaged by a small latch 36, pivoted at 37 and for the purpose stated is swung downward as shown in dotted line 36 in Fig. 3. When the door is swung downward to vertical position the same lip 35 is engaged and held by a rotatable catch 38, while'the switch plug 34, when plug 3 1 is absent, is in a socket 39 where it closes circuit between two forwardly spring pressed contact plugs 40 having wires 41 and 11 connected, with contact posts 42 and 42* respectively of the buzzer 22. The wire 41 also contacts on post 42 with a wire 43 leading to a screw 44 of the switch 24; and the wire 41 on contact post 42 contacts also with the wire 26 extending from said post 42 to the battery.

Mounted in the space 30 is a flash light lamp 45 which has its socket 45 connected by wires 46-46' to screws 47 and 47 respectively of the switch 24.

The press button or key 23 presses on a spring 48 (see Fig. 6) which closes circuitbetween two screws 49 and 50; the former of which is connected by the wire 27 to the battery, and the latter by a wire 51 to a screw 52 in the switch 24.

Upon the front end of the cabinet I mount a detachable attachment consisting of a suitable frame 53 having a metallic foot or lug 54 adapted to stand upon the main cabinet 10 and be steadied by contacting with the adjacent band 11 thereof, it being held against the band by having a rigid hook 55 engaging in the adjacent ring 14, and the front side of the frame 53 provided with a catch 56 in which the latch 36 engages when it is swung upward as in full lines in Figs. 1 and 3. Said latch and hook 55 enables the attachment to be attached or detached in a moment.

Secured in said frame or block 53 is a suitable socket 57 adapted to hold a strong spot light lamp 58 with reflector 59 and lens 60. Securable in the socket 57 is a contact 1 plug 61, which by a short cable 62 is connected to the plug 34: in socket 39.

In Fig. 4 is shown how the batteries are connected by a contact bar 64 and the lower battery is held between slanting partitions 65- guarding the wires 41, 41 46 and 46.

In Fig. 5 is shown how two of my instruments may be connected by contact plugs 34 and an intermediate double wire cable 63 stretched between distant points, like an army headquarter and a regimental headquarter; the cable being placed either above or under the surface of the ground according to circumstances.

The operation of the device is as follows:

First: If only the flash-light 45 is to be used as a lamp for visual signaling at short distances, the door 31 is opened and secured downward by the catch 38 so that the switch plug 34 contacts with the two smaller plugs 40, and the knife switch 24 is left open and the key operated to send short and long flashes making up the letters of the code required for the message. The person re ceiving the message may answer by using his instrument in the same manner.

Second: If the parties are far apart the door 31 is closed upwardly, the spot-light attachment 53, 5860 and its short cable 62 are employed as shown in Fig. 1, the knife switch 24, 25 is closed and the key 23 operated as before stated; the result will be much stronger flashes from lamp 58-60, readable miles away.

Third: If a line cable 63 is available the attachment 53 and short cable 62 is removed and the long cable 63 attached as in Fig. 5 and switch 24 closed, after which each operator in his turn manipulates his key 23, whereby both buzzers will be operated, so that the sender will hear the signal or message he is sending and reproducing at the other end of the line. Or, if the receiv ing party prefers a visual signal he may attach his end of the line cable 63 to his spot light socket 57 and thus receive a strong visual message into some private space where no enemy or spies can observe it.

Besides the operations described the flash light 45 may at any time be used by the operator as a pocket lamp when walking in the dark or when looking for anything.

If a description tracing the current in each operation is required the following will give a fair idea:

In the first operation above described, using only light 45 when the key 23 is pressed down the current from the battery passes through wire 26 to post- 42, through wire 41, switch plug 34 (which is then in socket 39) wire 41, wire 43, switch frame 24, wire 46*, lamp socket 45 (lighting lamp and thence it returns through wire 46, screw 47, wire 51, screw 50, key switch 48 and wire 27 to the battery.

In the second operation, when lamp 58 and short cable 62 and plug 34 are in use, and switch 2425 closed, the current runs through wire 26, 41, socket parts 40, cable 62, spot light 58, back through cable 62 and through wire 41, 43, switch lever 25 to wire 51, key switch 48 and wire 27 to the battery. During this operation some current may pass through the buzzer from post 42 to post 42? and by buzzing sounds aid the operator in the correct use of the key 23.

In the third operation, when two far distant instruments and a long cable are employed, the switch 25 remains closed, thecurrent used by either instrument passes from the battery of the first operator through wires 2641, socket 3940, or say 40 in Fig. 5, then through cable 63 and the receiving instrument, operating its buzzer, and returning through cable 63, and wires 41", 43, switch bar 25, wire 51, key switch and wire 27 to the battery. Also in this operation the sending buzzer may be sounded by a partial current from post 42 to post 42 wire 43, switch bar 25 and wires 51, 50, 48 and 27.

When the original sender expects an answer through his buzzer he releases his hold on key 23 so as to put his battery out of cir cuit; the answering party then operates his key and buzzer, and sends a current from his should then be out of battery over the long cable 63, through the wire 41 buzzer 22 of the original sender and thence back over wire 41 of cable 63 to the answering instrument where it returns to the battery thereof.

For code practice to code, the switch 25 may be closed, the buzzer will then sound loud and the light 45 will be faint or dim, the plugs 34 and 34 circuit. For practice with light t5 only, open switch 25 and the buzzer will be silent.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a cabinet with a source of electricity and circuit in the cabinet, a weak and a strong light electric lamp at one end of the cabinet, a. circuit controlling key at the other end of the cabinet, and means for turning the current alternately to either one of the said lamps, a buzzer and means for switchlearn the use of a' ingthe buzzer into service simultaneously with the service of the lamps.

2. The structure specified in claim 1, in which the strong light lamp is an attachment readily detachable from the cabinet.

3. In a device of the class described, a cabinet having in one end a cavity with a flash light in it, and .a smaller cavity with. two electric circuit terminals therein, adoor hinged between the said cavities and arranged to fold in closing position over either of them, one side of the door being plain and serving to shut ofif or cover up the flash light, the other side having a metallic plug adapted to close circuit between the said electric terminals in the smaller soc et when the door be swung in that direction, and means for holding the door in said two positions.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALBIN LINDSTEN. 

